How life has changed in Leicester

Leicester's population increased by about 49,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 330,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Leicester increased by 17.8%, from almost 280,000 to 330,000.

The addition of just under 50,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Leicester was home to, on average, 32 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the East Midlands' most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Leicester

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Leicester decreased by one year, from 32 to 31 years.

This area had the second-lowest average age in the East Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 17,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by almost 400.

About 20.0% of people in Leicester are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Leicester that rented privately increased from 12.5% to 22.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25.4%) households lived in social housing, compared with 27.8% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester households that owned their home decreased from 57.6% to 49.7%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the East Midlands. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Nottingham had the East Midlands' highest proportion of privately rented homes (23.1%), while Lincoln had the region's third highest proportion (21.0%).

Private renting in Leicester increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Leicester

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Leicester was among those who said they were Muslim, rising 7.9 points.

In 2011, 19.7% of respondents in Leicester gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 11.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as Muslim increased from 2.0% to 3.6%, while across England the percentage went from 3.5% to 5.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Leicester, 34.3% said they were Christian, compared with 48.1% in 2001. About 24.2% said they had no religion, compared with 18.8% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 15.9% to 16.1%.

In Leicester, 5.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.1% in 2001. Across the East Midlands, 6.8% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population who identified as Muslim in Leicester increased by 7.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East Midlands and Leicester by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Leicester

In 2011, 37.1% of Leicester residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 30.4% in 2001. The 6.7 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 4.7% to 7.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 50.5% of people in Leicester said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 63.9% in 2001. About 6.2% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 3.1% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.3% to 3.5%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Leicester increased by 6.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Living alone in Leicester

Leicester saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.0%) households in Leicester had only one person, compared with 32.6% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.0% to 8.5%.

Across the region, Nottingham saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of one-person households (from 37.5% in 2001 to 36.2% in 2011).

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Leicester saw the East Midlands' largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56.3%) households in Leicester had no children, compared with 58.5% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 33.4%.

Across the region, Oadby and Wigston saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of households without children (from 58.6% in 2001 to 56.8% in 2011).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Relationships in Leicester

The proportion of married people fell in Leicester, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the East Midlands.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.4% to 48.5%.

Across the East Midlands, the proportion of married people fell from 53.4% to 48.5% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Oadby and Wigston (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Leicester) fell from 56.5% to 51.8%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Leicester working less than 16 hours increased from 2.1% to 4.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 9.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Leicester increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Leicester

Leicester saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 19 (5.3%) in Leicester reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.0% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.1%.

Across the region, only Derby (from 7.3% to 6.3%) and South Derbyshire (from 8.0% to 7.3%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Leicester residents that were studying increased from 3.9% to 5.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 47.8% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester residents that were unemployed increased from 4.9% to 6.2%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Leicester increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Leicester, the East Midlands and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Leicester residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.3% to 2.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Leicester remained close to 2.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Leicester by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Leicester residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.2% to 6.0% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65.5% in 2001. The percentage of Leicester residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24.2% to 13.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Leicester decreased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Leicester, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links